Retired WWE Stars Wanted By Saudi Arabia For 2027 WrestleMania

WWE is taking WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia, and it seems the country is going to spend big to get the matches it wants, with retired stars in line for one last huge payday.

After years of speculation, it’s all but been confirmed that WrestleMania will be heading to Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2027.

The country will host the Royal Rumble for the first time in 2026, and this move has long been on the Middle Eastern kingdom’s wishlist, dating back to when they signed a ten-year deal with WWE in 2018.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave more insight into the deal, noting that he believes it was sealed in early August:

I first heard about this when they were negotiating next year’s deal for Vegas from people in Vegas. I still don’t know if it’s going to be a two WrestleMania year or not, but they are running in 2027. That was confirmed in August that they were gonna do the 2027 show.

This is Turki Al-Sheikh, and they’re putting up an incredible amount of money, a ridiculous amount of money. The idea is to present the most star-studded show ever by far. Everyone, anyone, money’s no object, any name you can imagine, they’re gonna be after.

I presume it’s the only WrestleMania of that year, but when I first heard, one of the ideas was to do a two WrestleMania year one year. So that way it keeps the American fans not upset about Saudi Arabia, but I think perhaps the deal is also, as Saudi Arabia has become more normalised, it appears that the outrage that would have been there even a year ago or two years ago probably won’t be there.

The deal was done by August 6th because that was the first day I was told that there would be a WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia for sure.

Saudi Arabia Wants Retired WWE Names For WrestleMania

Meltzer added that there was a big reason Saudi Arabia wanted the show in 2027, and it seems they’re targeting top retired WWE names to compete on the show:

The reason it’s 2027 – WWE wanted it for 2028, they had commitments for 2027. Saudi Arabia, I believe, was made a country in 1727 and 2027 is the 300th anniversary of Saudi Arabia, just as 2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States, which is why our country is giving UFC all kinds of money to run at the White House. They, in the same way, wanted it on the 300th anniversary, and they’re paying the money for it. They have matches they want and they’re working really, really hard to get. I don’t know if they’re gonna be able to get them, but they’re gonna spend the money to try.

We’re talking about anyone coming out of retirement, that wants to come out of retirement, of big-name value will be able to get a lot of money for this show.

Shawn Michaels infamously came out of retirement to compete on a show in Saudi Arabia with Triple H, Kane, and The Undertaker. Since then, the rest of the participants have also retired, with Triple H forced to stay out of the ring due to his medical condition.

John Cena is currently on his retirement tour in WWE, with his career in the company said to be ending on December 13th 2025.

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